Offset umbrella



Aug. 9, 1960 J. A; OWCZAREK OFFSET UMBRELLA Filed May 14, 1958 W T e m y W r 1 0 4 W15 J0 U n n af. ,7

Patented-Aug. 9, 1960- Jerzy A. Owczark, 2180-A Daisy Lane,

Schenectady, N.Y.

Filed May 14, 1958, Ser. No. 735,231

3 Claims. (Cl. 135-20) This invention has to do with folding umbrellas. More specifically, it pertains to such an umbrella which has its opening and closing mechanism, including its handle, ofi center of its dome, and the provision of such an eccentric arrangement of parts for such an umbrella is a principal object ofvthe invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an umbrella that can be held in either hand laterally, or centrally, of a person carrying the same to give maximum protection against the elements, and readily to permit rotation and control thereof from any such position to direct the bulk of the protective covering with respect to such elements whereby such maximum protection can be obtained.

Another object of the invention to provide such an umbrella that more readily can be opened or closed than conventional umbrellas without interference to the body of the person using the same, or to others, by holding the short side closer to him during such opening and closing operations.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a structural arrangement for an umbrella having a folding or opening and closing frame in which a plurality of ribs of varying lengths pivotally or hingedly are connected adjacent the top of the handle or carrying staif that will extend radially therefrom when the same is opened, the

frame having a longitudinal axis of symmetry in which 1- which pivotally is connected at one end intermediate the ends, of one of the ribs, and the opposite ends of all of the links collectively being" connected pivotally or hingedly to a latch member slidably mounted on the handle.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

I The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described'and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompany drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating an embodiment of my invention depicting an arrangement of the frame ribs in dotted lines; a

Fig 2 is a longitudinal section taken along the line of the axis of symmetry 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlargement of the opening and closing structure shown in Fig. 2 with parts broken away, when the umbrella is opened, in dotted line position when closed, as Well as when in an intermediate position; and

Fig. 4 is a view of such an umbrella when closed.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is ing frame comprising a plurality of ribs of varying lengths shown at 10, 11 and 11, 12 and 12, 13 and 13', 14 and 14', and 15.

These ribs are pivotally connected to a ring 20 adjacent the top of a carry-ing staff or handle 21 and are shown extending radially therefrom when the umbrella is opened.

The ribs 10 and 15, when used, fall along the axis of symmetry of the line 22. It will be seen that the group of ribs, 11, 12, 13 and 14, including the ribs 10 and 15, lying on one side of said axis are all of unequal or different lengths; and that each i-ib on the opposite side of said axis, namely, 11, 12, 13 and 14', is likewise of unequal or difierent lengths All of the ribs are connected to a frame opening and closing linkage mechanism comprising a plurality of links of varying lengths as shown in Fig. 2 wherein only one half the number of such links are shown and these are indicated by the reference numerals 10, 11", 12", 13", '14" and 15'. The actual number of links are equal in number to such ribs, one of each of which pivotally is connected at one end intermediate the ends of one of the ribs as indicated at 10a through 15a in Fig. l, and as shown at 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a and 15a, the latter group being shown only in Fig. 2. The opposite ends of all of said links are pivotally connected collectively to a member 30, such as a ring, for example, a conventional release catch slidably mounted on the staff 21. It will be observed that each link on the opposite side of the axis of symmetry is likewise of a different length. It should be understood that it is within the contemplation of the invention to introduce supplemental ribs, which will not be connected by links with the slip ring 30, to provide additional stiifeners for the dome.

From Fig. 1 it will clearly be noted that the ribs on opposite sides of the axis of symmetry are arranged in pairs of different lengths, for example, those shown at 11 and 1 1', 12 and 12, 13 and 13', and 14 and 14', and that likewise this arrangement shows'th-at such ribs on opposite sides of the axis are arranged in pairs comprising opositely directed long and short pairs, that is, 11, 11, and 14, 14', and that at least one pair of intermediate length, such as 12 and 12', or 13 and 13', is arranged therebetween.

p The same kind of an arrangement obtains in a paired selection of links in which only half of the group is shown in Fig. 2, as" at 10, 11" through 14", and 15';

By this arrangement it will be observed that the opening and closing mechanism as well as the stall is mounted eccentrically of the rib frame or, as might also be said, the frame which is provided with a conventional covering member, is offset with respect to the folding mechanism and the handle.

Referring again to the drawing, and particularly to Fig. 1, it Will be seen that each rib section or sector between its point of pivotal connection to the member 20, and its pivotal connection point to each link as at ltia through 15a, and 11a through 14a, has been designated by the letters s and sa along the axis of symmetry; the letters s on one side of said axis, and the letters s on the opposite side of said axis.

It will thus be seen that the sum of the length of each rib section s, sa, s or s", as the case may be, from its staff pivot connection at 20 plus the length of its link 10', 11" through 14", and 15' (as well as the corresponding links on the other side of said axis) is equal to the sum of the length of its diametrically opposed rib section plus the latters link length, although said sections and said links all being of dilferent lengths on the same side of the axis.

It may also be said that the sum of the length of each 3 rib section from its staff pivot connection to its link pivot connection plus the length of its link is equal to the sum of the length of every other such rib section and its corresponding link, although said sections and said links on the same side of said axis all are of different lengths.

This can also quickly be seen by reference to Fig. 3, wherein it can be said that the sum of the section s plus the link 16 is substantially equal to the sum of the section sa plus the length of the link 15'. With such an offset or eccentric arrangement the structure between the dome and frame, and the actuating mechanism and staff, it will be seen that the objects hereinbefore set forth readily and efficiently may be obtained.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

-It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An umbrella comprising a dome, an opening and closing frame including a plurality of ribs of varying lengths pivotally connected adjacent the top of a carrying staff substantially offset from the center of said dome and adapted to extend radially therefrom when said umbrella is opened, said frame having a longitudinal axis of symmetry in which each rib on the opposite sides thereof is of a different length, and a frame opening and closing linkage mechanism including a plurality of links of varying lengths, each link being pivotally connected at one end to a member slidably mounted on said staff and on the opposite end being pivotally connected to one of said ribs, the pivot points on each rib for said links on each side of said axis of symmetry being located at different distances from the pivot connections of the ribs near the top of the carrying staff to provide rib sections between said pivot points and said pivot connections that are of different lengths, the sum of the length of each said rib section plus the length of its corresponding link being equal to the sum of the length of every other such rib section and its corresponding link.

2. An umbrella comprising a dome, an opening and closing frame including a plurality of ribs of varying lengths pivotally connected adjacent the top of a carrying staff substantially offset from the center of said dome and adapted to extend radially therefrom when said umbrella is opened, said frame having a longitudinal axis of symmetry along which extends the shortest rib and the longest rib in opposite directions from said staff and in which each said rib on the opposite sides thereof is of a different length, and a frame opening and closing linkage mechanism including a plurality of links of varying but fixed lengths, each link being pivotally connected at one end to a member slidably mounted on said stalf and on the opposite end being pivotally connected to one of said ribs, the pivot points on each rib for said links on,each side of said axis of symmetry being located at different distances from the pivot connem'ons of the ribs near the top of the carrying staff to provide rib sections between said pivot points and said pivot connections that are of different lengths, the sum of the length of each said rib section plus the length of its corresponding link being equal to the sum of the length of every other such rib section and its corresponding link.

3. An umbrella comprising a dome, an opening and closing frame including a plurality of ribs of varying lengths pivotally connected adjacent the top of a carrying staif offset, from the center of said dome and adapted to extend radially therefrom when said umbrella is opened, said frame having a longitudinal axis of symmetry in which each said rib on the opposite sides thereof is of a ifferent length, and a frame opening and closing linkage mechanism including a plurality of links of varying lengths, each link being pivotally connected at one end to a member slidably mounted on said staff and on the opposite end being pivotally connected to one of said ribs, the pivot points on each rib for said links and the pivot connections adjacent the top of the carrying staff providing rib sections that are of varying lengths, the sum of the lengths of each said rib section plus the length of its corresponding link being substantially equal to the sum of the length of every other such rib section and its corresponding link, a slight inequality in the sum of the lengths of said rib sections and corresponding links existing when the ring holding the rib pivots adjacent the top of the staff is chosen to be inclined rather than perpendicular to the staff.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 415,176 France July 6, 1910 489,634 Italy Jan. 25, 1954 613,635 France Aug. 28, 1926 819,250 France July 5, 1937 

